Fast Talk

March 14, 2008

Q: Should waiting at home for the repair man count as a sick day? | posted by Fast Company staff

Tags: Work/Life

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10 Total

March 14, 2008 at 11:48am

Jim Balsitis

No, it should not count as a sick day. Sick days should be used only for when you are sick or perhaps when your child is sick. Companies should, however, give time off, personal time, for such events. How much time should a company give any one employee for such events? I'm not sure. I also think that companies should not take vacation time to be used for these types of time off. Vacation time is important to the wellbeing of the employee and it should be encouraged that the employee use it for that.

Of course, there are many different circumstances that would change how this might work.

March 14, 2008 at 1:53pm

Menahem Simha

March 14, 2008 at 4:03pm

Frank Martinez

Yes and no; If it did not count as a sick I think we all have a lot more services at home that "required" us to be there.

I do think that this is something we all experience so maybe employers can offer 2-3 days for home matters. The employee can then set an appointment for EVERYONE to come on the same day :).

Then again I get 10 vacation and 5 sic, so i have time, would 2-3 more be greedy?

March 14, 2008 at 4:23pm

Gene Lu

Especially a big NO for people that can work via telecommuting (Speaking of which, I'm working from home right now even though I'm sick).

It has always puzzled me why certain services don't extended beyond 6pm since most of the people that those services cater to are people that work from 9-5 (or even later).

March 14, 2008 at 4:48pm

Nathan Minetti

I think that companies should switch over to PTO (Paid Time Off) time instead of having vacation and sick days. This way the employee can chose to use their set number of days for whatever they chose.
I think repair men need to work later hours or weekends so people who have jobs do not need to use vacation in order to get something serviced at their home.

March 14, 2008 at 6:13pm

Will Nichols

Only if you cannot work from home, unless you're a telecommuter waiting for the Internet Repair guy.

March 14, 2008 at 6:40pm

Bar Wiegman

No - that is why you get vacation time - to take care of personal business. If you can work from home while waiting for the repairman, then you should be able to count it as work hours.

March 14, 2008 at 6:46pm

Rachel Rachel

Lol - I like this question, but I would have to say no. Simply because you are NOT sick. In terms of a doctor coming to repair your exterior - yes!

March 14, 2008 at 7:57pm

Judi Neal

No. An employee should just take comp time to wait for the repair man. If they don't have any earned comp time, they should make up the time missed as soon as they can.

March 14, 2008 at 10:30pm

Jason Falls

No, but the repairman should pay my days salary for so rudely wasting my time.

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